We are walking in today: True Leadership Take Initiative!!!!!
Witness straight throughout the Bible: H3474 yashar--to be pleasing, be agreeable, be right; to be
straightforward, be upright; to lead, direct, lead straight along; to esteem right, approve
2 Chronicles 32:30 This same Hezekiah also stopped the upper watercourse of Gihon, and brought it
straight H3474 down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works.
The Torah Testifies.............................
*****
The prophets proclaim...............
Isaiah 40:3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight H3474 in the desert a highway for our God.
The writings bear witness.............
Psalms 5:8 Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way
straight H3474 before my face.
Isaiah 45:2 I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:
The Spirit of Leadership
The first-century writer Paul is a great example of a leader who was passionate. In his second letter to the church in Corinth, we find a unique passage that shows the passion he had for his vision. Some people had challenged Paul’s right to be an apostle. They said that he was not really called by God and that he was not worthy of the respect he was getting. They themselves were false apostles, yet they attacked Paul’s credibility and spiritual qualifications and drew people away from the truth. Paul responded by addressing the Corinthian believers who were being led astray by these false apostles. He wrote that, even if what he was about to say sounded ridiculous and foolish, he would say it anyway so that they would return to the true gospel.
Leaders Are Those Who Have Discovered Something More Important Than Life Itself.
Are [these other men] Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I. Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. Why did Paul give a list of problems and tribulations as part of the proof that he was a genuine apostle? He was saying, in effect, “If the vision and assignment I received wasn’t real, do you think I’d go through all those hardships?” Paul paid a price for his purpose, but his passion enabled him to do it. You are passionate and you are real if you stay steady under pressure. You know your vision is from The Most High when you are still at it once the storm clears. Leadership is born when one discovers his purpose for being and commits to pursue it at all costs. If you find that you are bored, then you have not yet discovered your purpose because passion is the driving force in life.
Sow a thought, reap a belief.
straight H3474 down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works.
The Torah Testifies.............................
*****
The prophets proclaim...............
Isaiah 40:3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight H3474 in the desert a highway for our God.
The writings bear witness.............
Psalms 5:8 Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way
straight H3474 before my face.
Isaiah 45:2 I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:
The Spirit of Leadership
The first-century writer Paul is a great example of a leader who was passionate. In his second letter to the church in Corinth, we find a unique passage that shows the passion he had for his vision. Some people had challenged Paul’s right to be an apostle. They said that he was not really called by God and that he was not worthy of the respect he was getting. They themselves were false apostles, yet they attacked Paul’s credibility and spiritual qualifications and drew people away from the truth. Paul responded by addressing the Corinthian believers who were being led astray by these false apostles. He wrote that, even if what he was about to say sounded ridiculous and foolish, he would say it anyway so that they would return to the true gospel.
Leaders Are Those Who Have Discovered Something More Important Than Life Itself.
Are [these other men] Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I. Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. Why did Paul give a list of problems and tribulations as part of the proof that he was a genuine apostle? He was saying, in effect, “If the vision and assignment I received wasn’t real, do you think I’d go through all those hardships?” Paul paid a price for his purpose, but his passion enabled him to do it. You are passionate and you are real if you stay steady under pressure. You know your vision is from The Most High when you are still at it once the storm clears. Leadership is born when one discovers his purpose for being and commits to pursue it at all costs. If you find that you are bored, then you have not yet discovered your purpose because passion is the driving force in life.
Sow a thought, reap a belief.
Sow a belief, reap an attitude,
Sow an attitude, reap an action.
Sow an action, reap a habit.
Sow a habit, reap a character.
Sow a character, reap a destiny.
Attitude #2 Initiative
The greatest value you can possess is a good attitude.
The attitude of initiative is one of the most important attributes of true leaders that distinguishes them from perpetual followers. Leaders don't wait for the future to come; they create it. They don't wait for others to do what they should or could do. This is the distinction of leaders.
The inspiration of leadership is vision. A vision is a picture of what you want to accomplish. Yet the attitude of initiative makes the difference between a plan and an actual result. In other words, vision is a desire, while initiative gets it accomplished.
Let’s look at some descriptions of initiative:
• Initiative is a catalyst.
• Initiative is taking action.
• Initiative springs from self-motivation.
• Initiators are self-starters who don’t need outside urging to do something.
• Initiators make specific decisions to begin things.
The Creator is our primary example of the leadership attitude of initiative. The account of creation in the first book by Moses starts with, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said,‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.”
Vision Is A Desire; Initiative Gets It Accomplished.
Before God spoke, the earth was formless, empty, and dark. It would have remained that way if he hadn’t initiated the process of creation. He saw the potential of the earth and transformed it into something that had form, was teeming with created beings, and was filled with light. The most important lesson here is hidden in the words, “In the beginning God created.” Here we see that the spirit of leadership initiates activity and activates change. This is the spirit of a leader. Leaders don’t just dream; they awaken and act on their dreams.
The Principles Of Initiative
1. Initiative is the key to accomplishment.
There are numerous examples of inventors, composers, and others who initiated works out of their imaginations that otherwise would have remained mere potential. As you develop the attitudes of leadership, consider what ideas and desires you want to bring to reality and how taking initiative would be the catalyst for their manifestation.
2. Initiative is the power of momentum.
Merriam-Webster’s 11th Collegiate Dictionary describes inertia as an “indisposition to motion, exertion, or change.”Inertia is a fact of life. Things don’t get started, progress, or get back on track once they’ve stalled unless someone takes action to set them on the right course again. At a baseball game, a base coach urges on the runners to round the bases and make it to home before they are thrown out. He helps them to keep their momentum. Similarly, the attitude of initiative enables you to be your own coach so that you maintain momentum in pursuit of your life’s purpose.
3. Initiative is the manifestation of decision. Nothing can be accomplished unless a decision has been made concerning it. In our everyday lives, we don’t buy a house, choose a dress, or select one form of insurance over another unless we specifically decide to take one thing and put aside all other options. This principle holds true as we exercise our gift of leadership. Effective leadership involves a number of decisions and choices, which can lead many people to resist and forsake procrastination. Initiative enables us to make choices that help us to move forward in our goals.
4. Initiative is the key to pleasing leadership. Both leaders and followers appreciate the attitude of initiative in their fellow workers. When a leader is indecisive or a follower continually has to be told what to do, it is not only draining on those affected, but it is also inefficient. Leadership growth comes as a result of enthusiastically embracing and moving forward in our purposes.
Initiative Enables Us To Move Forward In Our Goals.
5. Initiative is the manifestation of the spirit of confidence and faith. We often hesitate to take initiative because we are afraid of responsibility or the consequences of our actions. The writer of Hebrews said, “But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.” When we exhibit the attitude of initiative, it shows that we are operating in faith and the confidence that God will see us through as we pursue the purposes that he has for us.
6. Initiative is the spirit of creativity. Inventors have the habit of doing multiple experiments. They keep trying until something works. Initiative often works in a similar way. A willingness to keep starting and trying things as we pursue our purposes sparks the spirit of creativity and yields good results for those who delight in trying “one more thing.”
7. Initiative is the key to obedience. When we know that we’re supposed to do something, that is when we should begin to do it. Holding back until we feel like it or the circumstances are better is not conducive to the practice of doing what we need to do at the time that we need to do it in order to
accomplish our goals.
Utilizing The Power Of Initiative
How is the attitude of initiative affected by your beliefs about yourself, your purpose, and your God? Leaders utilize the power of initiative because they:
• believe in the integrity and faithfulness of their Creator.
• believe in their causes.
• believe in the rightness of their dreams.
• believe in their competence.
• are not afraid to fail.
To become the leader that you were born to be, you must cultivate the spirit of initiative. Don’t wait for others to do what you know you could and should do. Be a leader—initiate.
Sow an attitude, reap an action.
Sow an action, reap a habit.
Sow a habit, reap a character.
Sow a character, reap a destiny.
Attitude #2 Initiative
The greatest value you can possess is a good attitude.
The attitude of initiative is one of the most important attributes of true leaders that distinguishes them from perpetual followers. Leaders don't wait for the future to come; they create it. They don't wait for others to do what they should or could do. This is the distinction of leaders.
The inspiration of leadership is vision. A vision is a picture of what you want to accomplish. Yet the attitude of initiative makes the difference between a plan and an actual result. In other words, vision is a desire, while initiative gets it accomplished.
Let’s look at some descriptions of initiative:
• Initiative is a catalyst.
• Initiative is taking action.
• Initiative springs from self-motivation.
• Initiators are self-starters who don’t need outside urging to do something.
• Initiators make specific decisions to begin things.
The Creator is our primary example of the leadership attitude of initiative. The account of creation in the first book by Moses starts with, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said,‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.”
Vision Is A Desire; Initiative Gets It Accomplished.
Before God spoke, the earth was formless, empty, and dark. It would have remained that way if he hadn’t initiated the process of creation. He saw the potential of the earth and transformed it into something that had form, was teeming with created beings, and was filled with light. The most important lesson here is hidden in the words, “In the beginning God created.” Here we see that the spirit of leadership initiates activity and activates change. This is the spirit of a leader. Leaders don’t just dream; they awaken and act on their dreams.
The Principles Of Initiative
1. Initiative is the key to accomplishment.
There are numerous examples of inventors, composers, and others who initiated works out of their imaginations that otherwise would have remained mere potential. As you develop the attitudes of leadership, consider what ideas and desires you want to bring to reality and how taking initiative would be the catalyst for their manifestation.
2. Initiative is the power of momentum.
Merriam-Webster’s 11th Collegiate Dictionary describes inertia as an “indisposition to motion, exertion, or change.”Inertia is a fact of life. Things don’t get started, progress, or get back on track once they’ve stalled unless someone takes action to set them on the right course again. At a baseball game, a base coach urges on the runners to round the bases and make it to home before they are thrown out. He helps them to keep their momentum. Similarly, the attitude of initiative enables you to be your own coach so that you maintain momentum in pursuit of your life’s purpose.
3. Initiative is the manifestation of decision. Nothing can be accomplished unless a decision has been made concerning it. In our everyday lives, we don’t buy a house, choose a dress, or select one form of insurance over another unless we specifically decide to take one thing and put aside all other options. This principle holds true as we exercise our gift of leadership. Effective leadership involves a number of decisions and choices, which can lead many people to resist and forsake procrastination. Initiative enables us to make choices that help us to move forward in our goals.
4. Initiative is the key to pleasing leadership. Both leaders and followers appreciate the attitude of initiative in their fellow workers. When a leader is indecisive or a follower continually has to be told what to do, it is not only draining on those affected, but it is also inefficient. Leadership growth comes as a result of enthusiastically embracing and moving forward in our purposes.
Initiative Enables Us To Move Forward In Our Goals.
5. Initiative is the manifestation of the spirit of confidence and faith. We often hesitate to take initiative because we are afraid of responsibility or the consequences of our actions. The writer of Hebrews said, “But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.” When we exhibit the attitude of initiative, it shows that we are operating in faith and the confidence that God will see us through as we pursue the purposes that he has for us.
6. Initiative is the spirit of creativity. Inventors have the habit of doing multiple experiments. They keep trying until something works. Initiative often works in a similar way. A willingness to keep starting and trying things as we pursue our purposes sparks the spirit of creativity and yields good results for those who delight in trying “one more thing.”
7. Initiative is the key to obedience. When we know that we’re supposed to do something, that is when we should begin to do it. Holding back until we feel like it or the circumstances are better is not conducive to the practice of doing what we need to do at the time that we need to do it in order to
accomplish our goals.
Utilizing The Power Of Initiative
How is the attitude of initiative affected by your beliefs about yourself, your purpose, and your God? Leaders utilize the power of initiative because they:
• believe in the integrity and faithfulness of their Creator.
• believe in their causes.
• believe in the rightness of their dreams.
• believe in their competence.
• are not afraid to fail.
To become the leader that you were born to be, you must cultivate the spirit of initiative. Don’t wait for others to do what you know you could and should do. Be a leader—initiate.
Shema Selah what is it that you will initiate today???
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